Bad day at the gym. :(

hufflepuffin

I apologize in advance if this ends up being ridiculously long-winded, but I'm so upset. Three days ago, I decided to add some more cardio to my work-out routine. Before three days ago, all the "cardio" I'd get would be from Wii Dance games. I know that's probably not a super-effective calorie burner, but I get into it as much as I can (my friend and I seriously play those games for hours), and I figured as long as I'm MOVING, I'm cool.

I've been eating pretty well the past few weeks, and I've been exercising.. I was feeling pretty confident that I could add some jogging/running in there and be okay. I decided I'd do a 5 minute warm-up and then I'd alternate running for one minute and walking (quickly) for 2 minutes. Everything went as planned the first day I tried it. I was actually surprised I could do that without any pain. I completed a mile in 20 minutes (slow start, but hey..) and the machine said I burned 100 calories. I was stoked. Second day I did the same thing, only faster. It was a little harder, obviously, but I hit my mile mark in 17:30 and finished out at 20 minutes very tired and a little sore, but feeling good otherwise.

Now TODAY... I try the same thing again today, and I just.. hit a wall or something. Around 8 minutes, my shins felt like they were going to split up the back. I muscled through that for another five minutes, but couldn't break into a run again because my shins were so sore. I thought then that I'd just walk it out until 20 minutes is up, and as soon as I finished the thought, I got a shooting pain up my shin bone, and I stopped the machine. I left the gym in tears.

I wasn't too tired to continue, I was just so SORE. I wanted to do it but my body just wouldn't let me. It's supposed to get easier, isn't it? Why is it getting harder?

I'm not going to quit or anything I'm just so, so discouraged right now.

Nerdy_Rose

Take a rest day. Jogging is one of the hardest types of cardio to get into. I can elliptical for a full hour, but make me jog for 5 minutes and I will collapse on the floor.

MissAnjy

What you experienced is called "shin splints" and it has nothing to do with fitness level. I know people who are avid runners who still suffer from these from time to time. I find that I get shin splints when I am running on an incline (on a treadmill). Were you running completely flat on the treadmill, or was the incline up slightly?

Also, don't let this discourage you. It can happen for a number of reasons. Just step back, step off, take ibuprofen & ice your shins. It doesn't mean that you failed, or that you're not able to do something you thought you could do. Our bodies react very differently to different things. Somedays this may happen, others it may not.

When it does, just know that it's okay, it happens to the best of us & to get back on the treadmill the next day, or whenever you're feeling able. You CAN do this and don't let shin splints tell you you can't.

candjiverson

You need to take a rest day! Even though you may not be feeling sore, your body still needs time to retrieve itself. I have that problem. I ran 4.25 miles three days ago... yesterday I could only run 3 miles... and today I was struggling to get to 2 miles. It not only is depressing, but de-motivating. My husband said if I don't take a day off of cardio and let my body heal, I will over work myself. Hope this helps! Just take a day off and get back on it in 2 days

Kelly_Wilson1990

Try running every other day. Make sure you have a good pair of shoes. I started the C25k last week. By the third day my feet and legs were hurting. Did some research and found out that shoes make all the difference in the world. I went to a shoe store (Fleet Feet) that specializes in running shoes and was fitted. It made a huge difference this week.

Egger29

Sounds to me simply that your body didn't have enough time to recover between sessions. Keep in mind your body gets stronger, adapts and rebuilds itself in BETWEEN workouts....not during the activity.

Rather than pushing yourself every day....try for every OTHER day and give your body the time to come back stronger for the next workout.

If running is your goal, make sure you have really good shoes as that's one of the primary factors in shin spints.

As for Wii Dance....if it's fun and you're enjoying it...it's just as good as being at the gym! True fitness is simply about being more active than sitting on the couch so keep dancing and get your groove on! :-)

Cheers!

FabCheeky

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244--13233-1-1X2-3,00.html

Check out this article. It might have some advice that helps with your shin pain.

hufflepuffin

What you experienced is called "shin splints" and it has nothing to do with fitness level. I know people who are avid runners who still suffer from these from time to time. I find that I get shin splints when I am running on an incline (on a treadmill). Were you running completely flat on the treadmill, or was the incline up slightly?

Also, don't let this discourage you. It can happen for a number of reasons. Just step back, step off, take ibuprofen & ice your shins. It doesn't mean that you failed, or that you're not able to do something you thought you could do. Our bodies react very differently to different things. Somedays this may happen, others it may not.

When it does, just know that it's okay, it happens to the best of us & to get back on the treadmill the next day, or whenever you're feeling able. You CAN do this and don't let shin splints tell you you can't.

The treadmill was completely flat. I think this is why I avoided the treadmill at first... when I was going to the gym (not-so-religiously) a while ago, I'd get pains in my shins just walking. I guess that's why I was so surprised and excited that I did my walking/running routine so easily on the first day. And THAT is why I'm so extremely disappointed that I couldn't do it today.

Thank you (ALL of you) for your advice and support. Now that I have a better idea of what's going on with me, I don't think I'll be quite so upset next time shin splints sabotage my work-out efforts.

MrBrown72

Did you stretch out first?

hufflepuffin

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244--13233-1-1X2-3,00.html

Check out this article. It might have some advice that helps with your shin pain.

Thanks for that. I *do* need new shoes. Hopefully it makes the pain less frequent.

hufflepuffin

Did you stretch out first?

I did, but maybe not as much as I should have.

hufflepuffin

Sounds to me simply that your body didn't have enough time to recover between sessions. Keep in mind your body gets stronger, adapts and rebuilds itself in BETWEEN workouts....not during the activity.

Rather than pushing yourself every day....try for every OTHER day and give your body the time to come back stronger for the next workout.

If running is your goal, make sure you have really good shoes as that's one of the primary factors in shin spints.

As for Wii Dance....if it's fun and you're enjoying it...it's just as good as being at the gym! True fitness is simply about being more active than sitting on the couch so keep dancing and get your groove on! :-)

Cheers!

I'm definitely going to take your advice and try to do it every other day... after I heal from today, that is. The off-days can be spent focusing on strength-training, I guess. That way I can do something to feel productive every day, but not burn-out any one muscle group.. right? Hope so! Haha. Thank you!

tigersword

Always make sure you give your body enough time to recover. Also, don't try to push harder every day. Your body and your legs need to adjust to what you're doing. I usually stick with one pace for a week, and then increase the pace for half a session the following week, then get fully into the new pace during the third week, and continue that pattern. It gives my body time to adjust, and isn't such a sudden shock to the system.